Fluid cooling apparatus and method



Dec. 23, 1941. G. .M. KLEUCKER FLUID COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD I 7 Filed March 24, 1939 2 Sheec s-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE M. KLEUCKER ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1941. s. M. KLEUCKER 8 FLUID COQLING' APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 24, 1939' 142 Sheets- Sheet; 2

INVENTOR KLEUCKER GEORGE M ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1941 S PATENT OFFICE FLUID COOLING arrana'rus AND ME'rnon George M.

Kleucker, St. Louis, Mo., assignot to Midwest Coolers, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., 9, corporation of Missouri Application March 2 4, 1939, Serial No; 263,864 3 Claims. (c1. 62-126) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fiuid cooling apparatus and methods.

My invention has for a primary object the provision of fluid cooling apparatus which is economical in construction, operation, and maintenance, and capable of extremely high surface and refrigerating efliciency hitherto thought unobtainable.

- My invention also has for an object the provision of a method of refrigeration and cooling which makes possible not only the achievement of heat exchange efficiencies far in excess of anything hitherto thought obtainable, but also extreme simplification of structure and other installed equipment with resultant economies in original investment as well as operation and maintenance, and which is effective and sanitary in the refrigeration and cooling of fluids generally. I

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewof a fluid cooling apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus, taken approximately along the line 2-4, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the apparatus, taken approximately along the line ll, Figure 3; v I

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a'modifled fluid cooling apparatus of my inventlonparticularlyadapted for use as a liquid cooler;

Figures 6 and.7 are transverse sectional views of the modified apparatus,taken approximately along the lines 66 and 1-1, respectively, Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the modified cooler, illustrating in detail the refrigerant distributing means; and

Figure 9 ma detail-sectional view of the apparatus, taken approximately along the line 9-9, Figure 8.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of my invention, the heat exchanger A includes an open-ended cylindrical circular tube sheets 2, 3, which latter project annularly outwardly beyond the periphery of the shell in the provision of attachment flanges l, 5.

Welded or otherwise fixed upon, and extending respectively upwardly and downwardly from, the flanges 4, 5, are cylindrical walls 6, I, provided with removable end closure disks 8, 9, in the formation of upper and lower liquid-receivin chambers III, II.

Mounted in the wall 6 and opening into the chamber III above the tube end-sheet 2, is an intakepipe I2, and similarly mounted in the lower wall I and opening into the chamber II just above the end closure disk {9, is an outlet pipe I3, all as best seen in Figure 1 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Welded or otherwise fixed in, and extending transversely across, the shell I, is an intermediate tube sheet It spaced a relatively short distance from the under face of the tube end-sheet 2 in the provision of a liquid refrigerant header space I5.

0 Mounted in vthe shell header space I5, is a refrigerant inlet pipe Mounted ,in the shell I and opening into thee and similarly mounted. upon, and opening into, the shell I just above the upper face of the lower tube end sheet '3, is a refrigerant recirculation pipe I! connected to a receiving sump tank I8. Near the bottom of the sump tank connection I9 to a conventional recirculation pump 20, which is at its discharge side connected, in turn, to the refrigerant intake pipe I6.

Also mounted in, and opening to the interior of, the shell I below the intermediate tube sheet I I, is a suction line 2| operatively connected to the low-side of a conventional refrigerating system (not shown). 7 It will, of course, be. evident that a conventional venturi-type recirculating means may be substituted for the pump 20. a

I and extending through the walls 2, 3, and I4, is a plurality of longitudinal heat exchange tubes 22 each opening at its upper end into the chamber III at its lower end intothe chamber II, all as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

Annularly about each of the tubes 22, the intermediate tube sheet I4 is formed with a series of apertures 23 opening above a frusto-conical distributor ring 24 having an outer laterally ex- 0 tending flange 25 welded or otherwise fixed to the under face of the intermediate tube sheet ll. Each ring 24 has a tube accommodating aperture 26 of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of theparticular tube 22 with shell I provided at its upper, and lower ends with which it is associated, thereby providing there- I8. is a suction about a narrow annular gap 29, all as best seen in Figure 3 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

In use, the liquid refrigerant is flooded by recirculating means or pump 20 into the header space l5 and cascades downwardly through the apertures 23, being directed by the respective distributor rings 24 through the annular gap or space 29 in the formation of a rapidly moving continuous film over the outer surface of each of the tubes 22. It will be understood that, due to the velocity and mass of the liquid refrigerant flowing as a rapidly moving sheet, gas

bubbles are sheared oil at inception and discharged through this liquid refrigerant sheet into the free" gas space of relatively large volume.

Evaporation from the outer surface of the film pipe 2|, to the suction of the compressor (not 6 shown) and the liquid refrigerant having evaporated is compensated for by liquid refrigerant flowing into a separate sump tank l8, which is provided with a conventional liquid level control (not shown). Near the bottom of the sump tank I8 is a suction connection l9 to a conventional recirculating pump zllwhich discharges through the pipe l6 into the liquid header I 5. The sump or surge tank is conventionally connected by a line 2| to the suction line 2| and the liquid level control therein (not shown) is connected by a line I8 to the condenser (not shown) for supplying liquid refrigerant to the tank I8.

Meanwhile the liquid to be cooled is pumped through the inlet pipe l2 into the liquid-receiving chamber l6 and passes downwardly through the tubes 22 into the lower liquid-receiving chamber l and thence outwardly through the outlet pipe I 3. The design of this apparatus lends itself particularly well to the aeration or oxidation of certain liquids, such as wort or milk and to the charging of water with carbon-dioxide. In such instances, the end closure disks 8, 9, of the upper and lower chambers H), II, may be made pressure-tight and the collars 6, I, provided with gas conduits a, b,shown as optional equipment in dottedlines in Figure 1. Air or gas may be induced to the bottom chamber through the conduit 12, whence it will pass upwardly through the tubes 22 into the receiving chamber In to perform the function of oxidation or carbonization, as the case may be. Excess gas or air is drawn off from the chamber l6 through the conduit b.

The modified heat exchanger B of Figures 5 to 9 is more particularly adapted for the cooling of liquids, such as beer, milk, and other beverages, for instance, and comprises an openended cylindrical shell 30 provided at its lower and upper peripheral margins with radially outwardly presented annular attachment=flanges 3|,

32. Extending across the upper and lower ends of, and welded or otherwise fixed-to, the shell 30, are upper and lower partition members or tube end-sheets 33, 34. Also fixed in, and extending transverse across, the shell 36 and spaced a short distance from theend-partition 3|, is an intermediate partition or tube sheet 35. i g

Mounted in the shell 30 and extending through the partitions the low-side tem (not shown), all as best seen in Figure 5.

tudinal cooler tubes 36 each terminating at its respective ends flush with the outwardly presented faces of the upper and lower end partitions 33, 34, all as best seen in Figure 5 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Thebtubes 36 are preferably arranged in a plurality of concentric or multi-pass series 31, 38, 39, and a central more or less axial group 40, each'series preferably containing the same number of tubes, all as best seen in Figures 8 and 9 and for purposes presently more fully appearing. It will, of course, be understood in this connection that the tubes 36 may also be grouped in any other multi-pass series or arrangement.

For accommodating the tubes 36, the intermediate partition 35 is provided with a plurality of apertures 43 each opening above a respective frusto-conical ring 44 welded or'otherwise fixed upon the under face of the partition 35 and tapering downwardly to a diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the accommodated tube 36 in the provision of a narrow annular gap 45, all as best seen in Figures 8 and 9 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Removably mounted over the opposite ends of the shell 30, are end domes 46, 41, constructed preferably of sheet metal or other suitable material a nd peripherally provided with radially out- 1 sitioned between the cooler pipe series 38 and the cooler pipe series 39 in the provision of concentric distribution chambers 5|, 52, all as best seen in Figures 5 and 6. In the event that the tubes 36 are grouped in some other type of multipass series or arrangement, as above pointed out,,

then some other type of more or less conventional baiiie means may be accordingly employed.

Similarly mounted in the space between -the lower tube end-sheet 35 and the lower dome 41, are two concentrically disposed cylindrical baflie rings 53, 54, the ring 53 being positioned between the cooler tube series 37 and the cooler tube series 38, and the ring 54 being positioned between the cooler tube series 39 andthe central or axial group cooler tubes 40 in the provision of concentric distribution chambers 55,56, 51, as best seen in Figures 5 and 7 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

The lower dome 41 is further provided with an intake pipe 58 communicating with the distribution chamber and an outlet pipe 59 communicating with the distribution chamber 51.

The shell 30 is also provided with a refrigerant supply line 60 opening into the space between the upper end-sheet 33 and the intermediate partition 35, and is further provided adjacent the lower tube sheet 34 with a refrigerant recirculation line 6|, which projects inwardly of the shell 30. Also mounted onandopening into the shell 38 preferably beneath the intermediate partition 35, is a suction line 62 operatively connected to of a conventional compressor sys- In use, liquid refrigerant is flooded into the header space between the upper partition 33 and the intermediate partition 35 and cascades down- 33, 34, 35, is a plurality of longiwardly through the apertures 43 in the intermediate partition 35 and is directed by the rings 44 or other distributing means through the an- I l sanitary requirements imposed for apparatus herein shown and described without departing the intake pipe 58 and passes upwardly through the cooling tubes 31 into the distribution compartment and thence flows downwardly through the cooling tube series 38 into the chamher 56. From the chamber 56, the liquid flows nular gap in the formation of a rapidly mov-- upwardly again through the cooler tube series 39 into the distribution chamber 52 and thence downwardly through the cooler tube series It and 4| into the distribution chamber 51 and out through the outlet pipe 59. Whenever. it is desired, the upper and -lower,domes 48, 41, and the associated baflie rings 50, 53, 54,

ly and simply removed, providing very convenient access to the cooler tubes .38 for cleaning purposes.

Thus it will be seen which make possible the achievement of exceptionally high efllciency. In fact, actual experiments have demonstrated that heat exchangers.

and coolers constructed in accordance with my present invention cies or, in other words, K factors which exceed I by several hundred-percent the efllciencies hitherto obtainable in previously available equipment. As has been pointed out above, this high efficiency is achieved largely by reason of the movement. and uninterrupted continuity of the film of liquid refrigerant on the one surface ofv achieve heat exchange eiiicienmay be quickthat, by my invention, 1 have provided heat exchange methods and meansthe medium through which the .heat exchange 5 takes place. In addition, the heat exchangers of my present invention, are capable of considerably increased volumetric capacity, as well as greater emciency.

It will also be evident thatthe heat exchangers of my present invention are not only extremely I efllcient in thermal operation, but are also exceptionally sanitary and will meet the most rigid the handling of liquids for human consumption.

- stantially 3'. In a vertical sheet-and-tube cooler including It should be understood that changes and mod- I iflcations in the form, construction, arrangement, and combinationot parts of the cooling may be made and substituted for those from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I surface of the associated 1. A cooler includingan elongated evaporator shell having a pair of spaced parallel tube sheets mounted therein for dividing the shell into an intake compartment, a discharge compartment,

and an intermediate evaporative compartment, a

plurality of tubes mounted at their ends in and extending longitudinally between the tube sheets for communication with the intake" and discharge compartments, and an intermediate transverse partition extending transversely across the evaporative compartment and snugly embracing the respective tubes, said partition being provided with a plurality of irusto-conical rings each disposed concentrically around, and spaced through- .out from, a respective tube, said partition further having an annular series of spaced aperplurality of tubes mounted at their ends in and extending longitudinally between the tube sheets for communication with the intake and discharge compartments, and an intermediate transverse partition extending transversely across the evaporative compartment and snugly embracing the tubes, said partition rality of frusto-conical rings eachdisposed concentrically about, and spaced throughout from, a respective tube,.said partition further having an annular series of spaced apertures disposed around each of said tubes with their longitudinal axes parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof, said apertures opening into the spaces above the oblique surfaces of the respective rings for creating a plurality of downwardly directed lets which are deflected at relatively high velocity by the ring against the associated tube for creating therearound a continuous cylindrical film which moves downwardly covering substantially the entire tube surface with a body of refrigerant having substantial mass and velocity over subthe entire tube-length.

a refrigerant header having a horizontal tube sheet and a plurality of vertical heat exchanger tubes extending therethrough, a refrigerant distributing ring fixed upon the under side of the tube sheet in external concentric relation to each tube,- said rings each being at its upper end of substantially larger diametral size than the tube and tapering downwardly and inwardly andbeing at its lower margin spaced from the outer of a restricted annular discharge space, said tube sheet further being provided .with a plurality of iet-torming apertures a vund each of said tubes opening into the space enclosed by the ring for forming a tube encasing film oi refrigerant having substantial mass and-. permitting a slightintermediate expansion or the reamount of irigerant for impelling the. refrigerant him downwardly through the annulardischarge space with substantial velocity. GEORGE M. KLEUCKER.

being provided with a plutube in the provision 

